Manning, Broncos lose to Patriots

Defense unable to slow down Brady

Associated Press

Posted:
10/07/2012 05:43:53 PM MDT

Updated:
10/07/2012 05:46:57 PM MDT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady won his latest showdown with Peyton Manning with the help of a career-high 151 yards rushing from Stevan Ridley and the New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos 31-21 on Sunday.

In the 13th meeting between the star quarterbacks, and first since Manning left the Indianapolis Colts, Brady directed four scoring marches of at least 80 yards and the Patriots rushed for 252 yards.

Brady improved to 9-4 against Manning, He completed 23 of 31 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown and ran for another. Manning was 31 of 44 for 345 yards and three touchdowns but lost a fumble on a third-quarter sack. The fumble led to Ridley's 8-yard run that put the Patriots (3-2) ahead 31-7 with about five minutes left in the third quarter.

Manning then threw touchdown passes of 2 yards to Eric Decker and 5 yards to Brandon Stokley but Denver (2-3) lost a fumble with 3:42 remaining.